Entertainment
Star Trek’s Most Divisive Spin-Off Warps Past a Major Streaming Milestone
After ten episodes across almost two months, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 came to an explosive end this past week with the finale episode, “Rubincon.” Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, this final episode was both satisfying in the way it tied up threads, but also neatly left the door open for more, given that the series has already been renewed for Season 2. This second season is likely to arrive sooner rather than later, following the news back in mid-February that filming had almost wrapped.
Expect the unexpected in Starfleet Academy Season 2, as co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are preparing to subvert your expectations and continue with their bold and often divisive storytelling choices. In an interview with Collider’s Samantha Coley, Kurtzman teased, “I think one of the things that we really like to challenge ourselves to do in the writer’s room is figure out ways to go against the expectation of what you think is going to happen.” He continued, “Because as an audience, that’s what we like to experience when we’re watching television or watching a movie, is like, how do you not stay ahead of the thing?”
But before getting ahead of ourselves, it’s worth basking in the afterglow of a successful final installment for the first season of this critically acclaimed spin-off. Although some audiences have proven less receptive, with the series facing backlash from review bombing upon arrival, it has been undeniably popular on streaming throughout its run. At the time of writing, Starfleet Academy has now surpassed the 50-day mark in the Paramount+ streaming top ten across all Amazon channels.
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What Have Critics Said About ‘Starfleet Academy’?
Boasting an 88% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Starfleet Academy has been a definite hit with critics, with many praising its breaking of the franchise mold and ensemble performances. In Samantha Coley’s official review of the new series for Collider, she awarded a near-perfect 9/10 score, saying, “Starfleet Academy is the best example of what Star Trek can and should be doing in this modern era — effortlessly inclusive, compelling, and innovative.”
Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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January 15, 2026
- Network
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Paramount+
- Showrunner
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Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
- Directors
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Douglas Aarniokoski, Alex Kurtzman, Andi Armaganian, Larry Teng
- Writers
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Gaia Violo, Alex Taub, Jane Maggs, Tawny Newsome, Kirsten Beyer, Kiley Rossetter, Eric Anthony Glover